Windjammer-Museum

About the museum

The Windjammer-Museum opened in Barth in September 2017 and is run by a nonprofit association. It is based on the Reeckmann collection, which the owners of the neighboring Barth shipyard assembled over many years. It is considered the most extensive exhibition of painted ship portraits in Germany and is supplemented by engravings, maps, nautical instruments, and photographs.

The museum resides in a villa from 1895 that the firm Gebrüder Wendt had built as a residence and company headquarters directly next to the shipyard and harbor. Later it belonged to the Teetz family of builders and sawmill operators, and after the Second World War it served as an apartment building and storage. After years of vacancy, the listed building was extensively renovated from 2014, with remains of the original painted decoration preserved; the exhibitions were installed in the summer of 2017.

On the first floor hang around 200 so-called captains' pictures from the period between 1807 and 1940, and on the second floor about 300 ship dioramas – half models in display cases that sailors built on long voyages. A separate section shows paintings by the Barth painter Louis Douzette, and further rooms tell of about 250 years of cargo shipping under sail, from Barth's rise to a shipowning center to the great deep-sea sailing ships.

Highlights

• Around 200 captains' pictures – Germany's largest exhibition of ship portraits
• About 300 historic ship dioramas on the second floor
• Douzette exhibition with over 20 works by the "moonlight painter"
• Villa from 1895 renovated in keeping with its heritage status, directly at the harbor
• Audio tour and virtual 3D tour

Permanent exhibitions

• Kapitänsbilder – Around 200 painted ship portraits from the years 1807 to 1940 on the first floor, including works by well-known ship portraitists from Europe.
• Schiffsdioramen – About 300 half models in display cases that sailors built on board in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Douzette-Ausstellung – More than 20 paintings by the Barth painter Louis Douzette from the years 1870 to 1920, freely accessible.

Founded

2017

Operated by

Windjammer-Museum e.V.

Admission & discounts

Holders of the guest card receive an additional €1 discount. The Douzette exhibition is accessible without admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The villa is at the Barth harbor directly next to the shipyard.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Historically furnished café in the villa; a few steps away the bistro "Klön Snack" (April 16 to October 31 Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00). Museum literature, art prints, and souvenirs in the online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit